Electric cigar lighter



Nov. 5? 1940.

J. slNKo 2,220,625

ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER Filed June 2'7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l NOV. 5,1940. J, slNKO ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER Filed June 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to electric cigar lighters of the type used inautomobiles, and more particularly to those commonly kno-wn as Wirelesslighters because Ithe igniting plug may be removed from the socketmember which is provided with electrical supply terminals. The ignitingplug is provided with a heating element adapted to store suiiicient heatto light several y cigars after the plug member is withdrawn.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvedplug member which will provide good electrical contacts for the heatingelement and be of short overall length.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved plug memberhaving an internal switch which may be thermostatically controlled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a telescoping plugmember having an internal switch and provided with guide means whichwill hold the telescoping parts in axial alignment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved thermostat foruse in a cigar lighter switch wherein the gripping portion of thethermostat may have a series of circumferentially disposed lugs whichwill move substantially in radial direction when heated to release theswitch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a removable andreplaceable igniting unit for 3'0 the plug member wherein a rearwardlyextending guide sleeve serves to protect the thermostat and preventinjury to the thermostat through rough handling.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments illustrated.

The invention is illustrated in preferred embodiments in theaccompanying drawings, in

Figure l is a broken longitudinal sectional view of a socket membershowing the withdrawable plug member in normal de-energized position;Fig. 2, a broken longitudinal sectional view of 4E the removable plugmember in collapsed or energized position; Fig. 3, a sectional view,taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a sectional View, takenas indicated at line 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a sectional View, taken as`indicated at line 5 56 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6, an elevational view of theimproved bimetal thermostat; Fig. 7, a plan view ci the thermostat shownin Fig. 6, the dotted lines indicating the normal gripping position ofthe arcuate arms; Fig. 8, a broken longitudinal sectional view of thesocket member and show- (Cl. .M9-32) ing a modified plug member innormal de-energized position; Fig. 9, a sectional view, taken asindicated at line 9-9 of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10, a broken elevational viewof the socket member showing one of the side-Wall spring contacts. '5

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-5, inclusive, A designates asocket member provided with a base-terminal A and a panel clamping yokeA2; and B, a removable plug member provided with an igniting unit B'. 10

The socket member A may comprise a cylindrical cup-like member having aclosed end-wall 9, a side-wall I0 adapted to form one terminal for theplug member B, and the edges of its open end may be rolled over, asindicated at II, l5 `to form a flange adapted to abut against a mountingpanel I2 which is perforated, as indicated at I3, to receive the socketmember.

The base-terminal A is insulated from the side-wall I0 of the socket andpreferably is made 20 up of two members I4 and I5. The member I4 is ofrather heavy material and forms an abutment to limit the inward travelof the igniting unit B. The member I5 preferably is made 0f light gaugesteel and has resilient arms disposed 25 between the member I4 so as toengage frictionally the contact ring on the unit B and releasably holdthe plug member in the socket in either its energized or de-energizedcondition.

The base terminal A is electrically connected 30 to a lead-in Wire IEand the socket wall may be grounded to Ithe other side of a suitablecurrent supply.

The removable plug member B is shown with a cylindrical metallic shellI'I which serves as a 35 hollow body member in which the switch ismounted. The shell is shown provided with an inwardly struck groove ISagainst which a bushing I9 is gripped by spinning over the end-wall, asindicated at 28. The outer end-wall of the shell is turned inwardly, asindicated at 2l, to confine a metal slide washer 22 which is secured toa knob 23 by means of a threaded stud 24. A cup-shaped guide-member 25is also secured to the handle 23 and cooperates with a guide sleeve 4526 on the removable igniting element B to keep the knob in axialalignment. A coil spring 2l urges the knob outwardly into extended opencircuit position. This spring also serves to maintain good electricalContact between the stud 24 '5g and the shell I'I. The front end of thestud 24 may be provided with a groove 28 to be engaged by the arms ofthe thermostat.

The igniting element B' is shown with a Cupshaped contact member 29which is insulated 55 from the threaded sleeve 26 and is adapted toengage the base-terminal A' of the socket member. A heating element 3i)has one end connected to the contact 29 and the other end is secured toa post 3| which secures in proper position the thermostat 32. Themembers 26 and 29 have openings through which heat may pass to thethermostat from the heating element and are insulated from each other bymeans of suitable washers 33.

The thermostat 32 is made of bimetal and has a pair of rearwardlyextending arms 34 provided at their ends with circumferentially disposedarcuate arms 35 having inwardly struck lugs 3B to engage the groove 28in the stud. It may be noted that the lugs 35 engage the stud member 24at a plurality of points and that when the thermostat is heated the arms34 swing outwardly and the arcuate arms 35 atten out so that they movein substantially a radial direction. This arrangement produces a moreaccurate and positive action than has heretofore been obtained withthermostats of this type.

The operation of the device will be readily understood. The plug B isnormally held in the socket by the spring arms I5 in open circuitposition. When it is desired to use the device, the knob 23 is thrustinwardly between the arms of the thermostat and held in energizedposition until the heat from the element is sufficient to cause thethermostat to open and permit the handle to snap outwardly under theinfluence of spring 21. The plug member may then be completely withdrawnand used to light a cigar.

`In the modification shown in Fig. 8 the construction is substantiallythe same as that described above except that the body 37 of the plugmember is made ofl insulating material and the igniting unit has anoutwardly extending flange 38 which is normally engaged by a springcontact arm 39 provided in the socket 40 which is grounded to the panel4|. The igniting unit provides a guide sleeve 42 to cooperate with thecup 43 on the knob 44 and hold the parts in axial alignment. Theoperation is the same as described above.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, but the-appended claims should be construed as broadly aspermissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim: l

1. In an electric cigar lighter provided with a socket member having aside-wall current supply terminal and provided at its inner end-wallwith a current supply base-terminal insulated from the side-wall, awithdrawable plug member adapted to t into said socket and makeelectrical contact with said terminals, comprising a hollow cylindricalbody; an igniter unit on the front end of said body having an axiallydisposed guide-member extending into the hollow body, an electricalheating element in said igniter unit having one end normally inelectrical contact with the base-terminal and insulated from theguide-member; a switch in said body electrically connected to the otherend of said heating element and adapted to close the circuit with theside-wall terminal of the socket member, a spring urging said switch toopen circuit position; and a handle member slidably mounted in said bodymember so as to close said switch when pressed forwardly against saidspring, said handle having guide-means cooperating with said guidememberon the igniter unit to keep the handle in axial alignment with'the body.

2. A device as specified in claim 1, in which a thermostat is disposedon the igniter unit so as to hold the switch in closed position, afterit has been closed against the action of the spring, until the heatingelement reaches a desired temperature.

3. A device os specified in claim 1, in which a thermostat is disposedon the igniter unit so as to hold the switch in closed position, afterit has been closed against the action of the spring, until the heatingelement reaches a desired temperature, and the guide-member is in theform of a sleeve which completely encircles the thermostat.

4. A device as specified in claim 1, in which the body of the plug ismade of conducting material, one portion of the switch is fixed to theslidable handle, and the spring maintains electrical contact between thebody and said switch portion.

5. A device as specified in claim l, in which the body of the plug ismade of electrical insulating material, the igniting unit is threadedthereto and has a side-terminal electrically connected to one side ofthe switch and adapted to contact the side-wall terminal of the socketmember when the plug is fully inserted therein.

6. In a cigar lighter, a plug member comprisingu' a hollow body member;an igniter unit detachably mounted thereon having a sleeve-likeguide-member extending into said body; a handle slidably mounted in thebody member for limited movement and having guide-means for cooperatingwith the guide-member of the igniting unit to keep them in axialalignment; and an electrical spring switch between said handle andigniting unit.

7. A device as specified in claim 6, in which a thermostat is disposedon the igniting unit within the sleeve-like guide-member so as tocontrol Opening of the switch after the handle has been forced inwardlyagainst the spring.

8. In a cigar lighter, a plug member comprising: a hollow body member;an igniter unit detachably mounted thereon having a sleeve-likeguide-member extending into said body; a handle slidably mounted in thebody member for limited movement and having guide-means for cooperatingwith the guide-member of the igniting unit to keep them in axialalignment; a circular Contact stud mounted on said handle andelectrically connected to a portion of said body member; a thermostatmounted in said igniter unit so as to engage said contact stud and closethe circuit through the igniter unit when the handle is pressedinwardly, said thermostat having bimetal axially-disposed arms providedat their ends with arcuate portions adapted to engage said contact studreleasably; and a spring urging said thermostat and stud into relativelyextended open-circuit position.

9. A device as specified in claim 8, in which arcuate portions of thethermostatic arms encircle the greater part of the circumference of thestud and are provided with inwardly extending lugs adapted to grip saidstud while the circuit is closed.

JOHN SINKO.

